Downing Students Reviews 55

I’ve lived in this building for the past year, and honestly everything is great. The residents are so kind to each other and try to make a good atmosphere. What ruins this atmosphere- the rude attitudes of the staff. Every interaction I’ve had with one particular staff member (tall woman, brown hair, glasses), I’ve been met with backhanded comments, attitude, and disinterest. If this is supposed to be such a welcoming accommodation, then why is there someone there who constantly acts like she’s annoyed at students? I don’t even like going up to the front desk anymore when I need help during the day because I just feel like I’m going to be met with an unpositive energy all around. The only staff that have helped me are the ones who work at night and the day staff that had the best attitude no longer works here. Even though it’s a student accommodation, we’re all still adults and no one has the right to act like they’re better than the other.

The front desk experience has been hit or miss. While some staff members are warm and approachable, others have come across as noticeably rude. On one occasion, a staff member threw my student pass on the table instead of handing it over respectfully, despite my politeness. Kindness costs nothing.

As an exchange student who arrived only a few days ago, it's unfortunate that this has been my first impression of London and King's Residences. I hope that other students have not felt as disrespected as I did.

Scottish law mandates a "habitability obligation" – you must provide a safe, healthy living space. Yet persistent nighttime noise (neighbours, appliances, heating) and cooking fumes from faulty ventilation violated this, worsening my migraine and prompting a doctor’s advice to relocate. Your tenancy Clause 5.8 bans tenant harassment, but as landlords with joint liability, you ignored my repeated formal appeals: no noise mitigation, perfunctory responses, and even staff assisting the noise-maker to restrict my rights. As accommodation providers, you failed your core duty to ensure quiet safety and address reasonable requests. This neglect, paired with ongoing nuisances, caused severe physical (sleep deprivation, migraines) and mental (anxiety, stress) harm, derailing my studies. My medical certificate confirms these damages – your inaction is the key culprit. Your refusal to approve early termination is deeply flawed: you cited "noise" as the sole reason, completely ignoring my medical certificate proving worsening migraines, stress, and anxiety from the noise—neglecting the critical premise of health harm. Your contradictory solutions (once a room swap, now subletting) offer no clarity: if no new tenant is found, I’m stuck paying rent indefinitely, contradicting my urgent health need to escape. Worse, you evaded my core requests—confirmation of receiving my email/medical certificate and written progress updates—failing even basic communication duties. Your inconsistent rules and disregard for my well-being are unacceptable.

Square Gardens - Extended periods of time in winter with no or extremely limited hot water and very slow maintenance response with very poor communication to residents from the building and management

Great facilities, communication and lovely staff! Would recommend!

People are very friendly and helpful when I confront some difficulties.

Extremely helpful and kind staff

amazing place to live, the people here are so friendly

At the front desk, there was a staff member with long white hair. After I showed her the delivery record of the parcel, she just sat there unwilling to get up and help me look for it. She said coldly that it might be lost and it had nothing to do with her. And when I asked to borrow a vacuum cleaner from her, for some reason, she gave me the one that was broken among the two. It was only after I asked the cleaning staff that the problem was solved.

Delicious free pizza and drinks

The staff were lovely, and were accommodating for my requesting needs of certain free items.

I can‘t find my delivery，eventhough the picture by delivery man which truly sent to the reception

heating is too small, I often get cold at night. It would be unreasonable if students were not allowed to bring their own heating.

Quick help and useful aid, kindness reception everything is well

great good amazing

Good. People at reception are very kind and enthusiastic.

The receptionists are friendly also living conditions are perfect. However, the heating isn’t warm enough, sometimes I felt cold while sleeping. That’s why I gave four stars to Atlas.